Rejected by Google 12 Years Ago, Ragini Das Now Leads Its Startup Arm in India

Entrepreneur and influencer Ragini Das has achieved a major career milestone as she takes on her new role as Head of Google for Startups, India. Announcing the news on X, she described the achievement as a “full-circle” moment. “Life has come full circle, and I’m excited to share that I’ve joined Google as Head of Google for Startups, India,” she wrote, expressing both pride and gratitude for how far she has come.

Life has come full circle, and I’m excited to share that I’ve joined @Google as Head of Google for Startups – India 🍋

The backstory: In 2013, I sat for two interviews: one at Google and one at Zomato. pic.twitter.com/Hs9cqKHFxJ

— Ragini Das (@ragingdas) October 6, 2025

From Rejection to Recognition

Das first interviewed with Google 12 years ago, in 2013, but didn’t make it past the final round. That moment, however, marked the beginning of an incredible journey. She soon joined Zomato, where she spent six years across sales, growth, and international expansion. Reflecting on her time there, she said, “Zomato helped me identify my career moat, gave me lifelong friends, an incredibly steep learning curve and the resilience to eventually take the leap and co-found Leap.club.”

Building Leap.club and Empowering Women

In 2020, Ragini co-founded Leap.club, a professional network created to empower women in leadership and entrepreneurship. As she shared on her LinkedIn profile, the platform “gave me purpose, an identity and changed lives for thousands of women.” Leap.club paused operations earlier this year, giving Das the space to travel, work on personal projects, and spend time with her pet dog, Jimmy.

Joining Google for Startups – India

The opportunity to return to Google arose in August, and for Das, it felt like destiny. “The role sat at the intersection of 0–10, founders and everything I’ve built over the years. It kinda felt like destiny, iykwim,” she wrote, using the internet slang “if you know what I mean.”

Now, as Head of Google for Startups, India, Ragini’s mission is to empower early-stage founders by connecting them with mentorship, networks, and resources. “We’re on a mission to support thriving startups around the world by connecting them to the right people, products and best practices to help them grow,” she said.

A Dynamic Career and Influence Beyond Work

Ragini’s career spans multiple industries, from tech to entrepreneurship. Before co-founding Leap.club, she held leadership roles at Zomato and worked with Trident Group India. She also interned at Standard Chartered Bank and Aludecor.

A graduate of Lancaster University with a BBA (Hons), Ragini completed her education at Chettinad Vidyashram in Chennai, where she also served as the cultural secretary. Today, she chairs the Women in Startups Committee at FICCI, championing women-led innovation and entrepreneurship in India.

Apart from her leadership roles, Ragini is also an influencer on LinkedIn and X, where she often shares her thoughts on startups, women in leadership, and personal growth. Her content resonates with India’s young professionals and aspiring entrepreneurs, blending insight with authenticity.

Inspiring the Next Generation of Founders: A Full-Circle Moment for Ragini Das

From being rejected by Google to now leading its startup initiative in India, Ragini Das embodies resilience, vision, and the courage to create her own path. Her story reminds every aspiring entrepreneur that setbacks can become stepping stones when matched with persistence and purpose.